Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP, Dr Dan Poulter, has welcomed an extension to the reporting stage in the current round of Sizewell C deliberations.
Dr Poulter has written directly to the Lead Examiner for Sizewell C at the Planning Inspectorate, Wendy McKay, asking her to consider the future route of a Four Villages Bypass, and he strongly welcomes the extension now granted by the Secretary of State. In his letter to the Lead Examiner, Dr Poulter has asked that this extension is used to consider the critical issue of a Four Villages Bypass. The Examining Authority has until 25 February 2022 to submit its final report.
The Planning Inspectorate had called on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to request an extension to the reporting stage due to concerns over health and wellbeing of members of the Examining Authority.
In the long running dialogue surrounding Sizewell C, residents of Marlesford and Little Glemham had hoped for a Four Villages Bypass to alleviate the substantial increase in traffic which will be caused during construction of Sizewell C, but the current application from EDF proposes a bypass only for the two villages of Stratford St. Andrew and Farnham instead. This so-called Two Villages Bypass does not currently allow for a future connection with a bypass for Little Glemham and Marlesford and concerns are growing that if the application goes through in its current guise, the opportunity to link up in future will be lost forever. As a longstanding supporter of the Four Villages Bypass, Dr Poulter is calling on the Planning Inspectorate to use this extension to further consider the missed strategic opportunity to potentially allow the two routes to be linked up at a future date.
Dr Poulter MP said “A two villages bypass is a start but I remain disappointed that the Four Villages Bypass is not included within the current application before the Examining Authority. Looking to the future, we simply cannot afford to miss this vital opportunity to consider any future link up between the proposed Two Villages Bypass and the desired route for the Four Villages Bypass. The residents of Marlesford and Little Glemham already experience heavy traffic, particularly during the busy summer months, without the added pressures which will be caused with the construction of Sizewell C. It would be short-sighted to consider a route that will make any future bypass for Marlesford and Little Glemham all but impossible, and I have therefore asked the Examining Authority to consider this opportunity during this extension period.”
“Due to magnitude and complexity of this application, I am also grateful to the Secretary of State for granting this extension to allow the Examining Authority further time to fully consider any remaining outstanding issues.
ENDS